What people have been saying about Young all along is true: he’s a team player who cares only about making the Rangers better. Pity he plays for the Phillies at the moment, but let us not dwell on the details.

A friend of mine who is a lifelong Rangers fan always claimed that Young was not the “great guy” that everyone made him out to be. As soon as this was posted, he texted to say “see?? told ya!!”

I can’t get mad at a guy for wanting to have some control over where he plays, but would less than half a season living out of the suitcase he brought with him to play in Philly this season really kill him?

As a father of two little ones, I can relate to this. It’s any parent’s worst fear to be far away from home while your kiddo is sick enough to be hospitalized.

But Philly is pretty far from Texas. New York and Boston are further away, but the transport isn’t all that different. And the rest of the major league cities are *closer* to Texas than Philly, New York, and Boston. Would being traded to another team *not* in Texas be any worse than playing in the city he’s currently signed with?

No, but this is presumably the only leverage he has to get sent back to Texas. He gets to limit the possible outcomes to two: he goes to Texas or he stays in Philly, as opposed to 5-6 potential outcomes. If the goal is to get back to Texas, this is the best way to accomplish it.

Again, because it’s the only move he has to get what he wants. I understand it completely. He’s paid to play baseball, and he’ll play it regardless of whether he stays in Philly or not. And saying he won’t waive it is one thing. Teams are still welcome to try and talk him into it. It costs him nothing to draw this line in the sand.

…except the chance to play for a team that’s closer to home than Philadelphia…or might give him a shot at winning a ring (which is why I reminded us both that this guy is a ball player, after all). It costs him plenty, by the very terms of the argument you’re making (that he wants to be home).

Do you really think that Texas and Philly can, will, or even want to work out a deal?

geoknows - Jul 30, 2013 at 1:45 PM

Actually, Young’s no-trade clause only allows him to block 21 teams, so that leaves eight teams he can be traded to without his consent. His ten-five rights went away when the Rangers traded him.

News Flash: NBC’s Craig Calcaterra has been traded to Fox News. Reports indicate Fox has optioned him to their top affiliate in Hattiesburgh, Mississippi, but sources close to Calcaterra say he won’t report and doesn’t approve of the move, and will only approve a move to CBS’s New York office.

Eh, I got no problem with this. Players earn or negotiate the right to decide who they are traded to…Young has earned that right, he has not obligation to the Phillies other than to play baseball as best he can and to honor his contract, which he is doing.